Adjustable height sealing unit with reversible underseal strips



April 26, 1960 e. w. CORNELL 2,933,781

ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT SEALING UNIT WITH REVERSIBLE UNDERSEAL STRIPS Filed Feb. 14, 1956 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT OR ATTORNEYS April 26, 1960 e. w. CORNELL- 2,933,781

ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT SEALING UNIT WITH REVERSIBLE UNDERSEAL STRIPS Filed Feb. 14, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @MWW ATTORNEYS ,entranceways presents varying problems.

ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT SEALING UNIT WITH REVERSIBLE UNDERSEAL STRIPS George W. Cornell, Miami, Fla., assignor of one-half to W. Elder Cornell, Jr., Miami, Fla.

The present inventionrelates to improvements in seal units or door thresholds and more particularly to improvements in positive sealing door thresholds having arched flexible elastic weatherstrips, the commercial forms of which are known in the trade as vinyl insert thresholds. Such thresholds basically consist of a rigid base or saddle member, usually formed of extruded aluminum, and an elastomeric arched insert extending longitudinally of the base member and removably interconnected therewith. In their preferred form, such thresholds are also equipped with elastomeric under saddle sealing strips mounted along their outer or both opposite longitudinal bottom edges for air and moisture tight engagement with threshold mounting surface formed, for example, by the flooring and a door step of the building structure in which they are installed. In the commercial forms of these thresholds, the weatherstrip, also known as a primary sealing strip, and the edge or secondary sealing strips preferably are formed of vinyl plastic extrusions.

For general application, the preferred form of such thresholds is that disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,718,677 issued September 27, 1955 to George W. Cornell for Threshold and Door Sealing Constructions. Structures of the type disclosed in this patent have become widely accepted in the trade,,particularly for installation in new building constructions, and in replacement of other types of door thresholds. While the structure disclosed in that patent is extremely satisfactory for these general applications, proper scaling in certain instances because of the varying door clearances encountered in existing building constructions and uneven flooring and door step mounting surfaces in the case of terrazzo and concrete floors and badly Worn The present invention is intended to fully take advantage of the suitability of vinyl insert thresholds for installation without the use of caulking by relatively unskilled persons and the average homeowner and at the same time solve these varying problems.

With the foregoing general considerations in view, the principal objects of this invention are to provide:

A flexible Weatherstrip insert equipped seal unit adapted to accommodate variations in the spacing between the edge of a door and the adjacent seal unit mounting surface over at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the threshold;

A flexible Weatherstrip insert equipped seal unit adapted to accommodate abnormal and/or non-uniform spacing between a door edge and the adjacent seal unit mounting surface and assure an air and moisture tight seal when the door is closed;

A flexible Weatherstrip insert equipped threshold in which the spacing between the door engaging surface of the flexible Weatherstrip insert is adjustable relative to the threshold base member to adapt the threshold for use with doors the bottom edges of which are variously spaced from the threshold mounting surface;

atenlt ice Additional objects of the invention reside in provid-' ing a flexible arched Weatherstrip insert threshold adapted to accommodate varying spacings between the bottom edge of the door and the threshold mounting surface in different installaltions in which at least one edge of the flexible Weatherstrip insert may be removably interconnected in installed position upon the threshold member at one or another of a plurality of distinct positions to provide varying protrusions of the door engaging surface of the flexible Weatherstrip insert from the threshold base member,

Another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible arched Weatherstrip insert equipped threshold adapted when in its installed position to form a fluid tight seal with an engaged threshold mounting surface which has been deeply worn irregularly along the iongitudinal length of the threshold while maintaining a fluid tight seal with the opposed door threshold also.

A further object of this invention is to provide a flexible arched Weatherstrip insert equipped threshold adapted to accommodate depressions in a threshold mounting surface and having along at least one longitudinal edge thereof a reversible elastomeric sealing strip which may be attached to said threshold in either its normal or its reversed position and which may be cut into sections and assembled on said threshold to form a continuous seal in which certain portions are in their normal position and other portions are in their reversed position,

Still another object of this invention is to provide a flexible arched Weatherstrip insert equipped threshold having along at least one longitudinal under edge of its base member a flexible sealing strip adapted for engagement with a threshold mounting surfacein which the sealing strip and the mode of mounting it on the base member is such that the sealing strip may be mounted upon the base member in either a normal or a reversed position in one of which positions the sealing strip is adapted to engage a threshold mounting surface portion more Widely spaced from the base member than when in its other position, and in which the sealing strip may be cut into sections to permit reversal of certain of such sections and assembly of all of such sections upon the base member to provide a continuous fluid tight seal with the engaged non-planar threshold mounting surface.

A further object of this invention resides in providing for a flexible Weatherstrip insert equipped sealing unit a rigid support base or saddle member having flexible seal strip receiving undercut groove means located at different distances inwardly from a closure opening defining surface adapted to selectively mount a flexible closure seal strip to accommodate a closure member having any one of several different clearances.

Still another objectof the present invention resides in providing for a flexible Weatherstrip insert equipped sealing unit an undersaddle flexible elastomeric seal insert strip adapted to be mounted in av'selected one of either of a plurality of assembled positions along the saddle to adapt the scaling unit for sealing engagement throughout its length with an opposed mounting surface irrespective of substantial variations in level of the mounting surface.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more fully apparent by reference to the appended claims and as the following detailed description proceeds in reference to the accompanying drawings where- Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view along the line l1 of Figure 2 through a preferred form a flexible Weatherstrip insert equipped threshold in its installed position in a doorway in which the threshold mounting cement step or terrazzo or similar floor on the opposite side;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the installed'flexible weathership insert equipped threshold of Figure 1, being a view from the right of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the left end of the flexible Weatherstrip insert equipped threshold of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the right end of the flexible Weatherstrip insert equipped threshold illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 4A is a fragmentary perspective Weatherstrip insert of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view along line 5-5 of Figure 6 of a further embodiment of the present invention in which a flexible Weatherstrip insert equipped threshold is adapted to be superimposed upon a Wooden threshold saddle to form a iiuid tight seal between the threshold mounting surface formed by the top of the preexisting wooden threshold and the adjacent bottom edge of the coasting door illustrating the use of one form of novel undersaddle seal to accommodate a badly worn wooden saddle;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 5 as viewed from. the right of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view along line 7--7 of Figure 6 illustrating the flexible Weatherstrip insert and the longitudinal edge seal in their positions adapted respectively to accommodate a lower portion of the door edge and the deep depression in the door sill;

Figure 7A is a fragmentary perspective view of the Weatherstrip insert of the embodiment of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the threshold mounting surface engaging longitudinal edge scaling strip for the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 through 4; and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the threshold mounting surface engaging longitudinal edge sealing strip for the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 5 through 7.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and particularly to Figures 1 to 4A and 8, the embodiment of the sealing unit 10 therein illustrated is a door threshold although it is to be understood that a similar structure appropriately dimensioned will serve equally well as a seal unit for the sides and top of a door, a window opening or the opening for any closure element in any type of structure such as a house, automobile, refrigerator or the like. As illustrated, the threshold comprising a saddle or base member 12, preferably formed of alumi- 1111111 for its anti-corrosion properties and extruded by conventional practice in the cross sectional configuration illustrated in Figure 1, an arched Weatherstrip or primary sealing strip 14 formed of a resilient flexible material, preferably monomeric vinyl plastic because of its ability to assume a set when deformed and its slow recovery rate When the deforming pressure is removed to reduce frictional drag in use. Strip 1% is mounted upon the base or saddle member 12 in arched relation thereto and adapted to engage in air and moisture tight relationship the edge 16 of a door 18. A pair of under saddle sealing strips 20 and 22 are located at the opposite lateral edges or". the saddle 12 and adapted to form an air and moisture tight seal between the saddle 12 and an engaged threshold mounting surface 24. As illustrated in Figure 1, the unit It is mounted at the bottom of a doorway bridging a wooden flooring 26 and a cement step or terrazzo flooring 28, and is located between the vertical side door frames 29 and 3d and is cut out at its ends to accommodate the side doorstops 31 and 32. It is preferable that the bottom edge 16 of the door 18 be beveled. as shown in Figure 1 so that, in. the door closing; direction, the edge 16' is tapered from view of the '4 a relatively leading high edge to a relatively low trailing edge. This-beveled edge reduces wear upon the strip 14 and reduces the resistance to closing the door.

The member 12 and the strips 14, 20 and 22 are uniform in cross section throughout their entire longitudinal lengths in their no load conditions.

The member 12 is provided with downwardly extending ribs 34 and 36 of relatively great thickness terminating respectively in bottom coplanar surfaces 33 and 4! which may be dimensioned to either clear the opposed iloor surface or to rest on the threshold mounting surface 24 to provide a rigid support for the threshold 10 as desired. The member 12 is rigid under loads placed on the top thereof under normal conditions, being adapted to support without deformation several times the weight of the human body and articles of furniture or the like normally passing through the door opening. The rigidity of the member 12 is measurably aided by the longitudinally extending ribs 34 and 36 and the offset regions 42 backing the friction grooves 44 which assure a non-skit surface on the member 12. The top surface of the portion 46 of the member 12 lies below the plane of the top surface of the member 12 formed by surfaces 48 and 50 a distance of .094 inch to provide a. recess just sufficient to receive the flexible arched strip 14- when compressed under a load passing over the threshold 10 to assure against a ladys heel catching in the recess or a bulging uneven surface likely to twist an ankle or throw a person stepping upon it.

The ribs 34 and 36 are preferably provided, respectively, with longitudinally extending upwardly and inwardly opening grooves 52 and 54 which receive the opposite lateral edges of the arched strip 1.4. It will be appreciated, however, that a single upwardly opening groove adapted to receive a longitudinal securing tab of abulbous or similar arching walled seal strip may be used in lieu of the preferred structure if desired. Grooves 52 and 54 are each formed with at least one undercut longitudinally extending Sections 56 and and adapted to receive, in mating relationship, the laterally protruding connector bases 68 and 62 formed along the opposite lateral edges of the strip 14, the cross sectional configuration of the bases 63 and 62 being the same as the cross sectional configuration of the undercut sections 56 and 53 to provide a firm interengagement, being preferably of rectangular cross section as shown. In the preferred form of the invention, the width of the undercut section 56 is .259 inch and the depth of the undercut section is .078 inch. The base 60 is dimensioned to be received within the undercut section 56 with a slight clearance, being .218 inch wide and .050 inch deep. The width of the non-undercut portion of the groove 52 is .115 inch and the thickness of the portion of the side 64 of the arched strip 14 received therein is .100 inch.

In the preferred form of the invention the grooves 52 and 54 are each formed with a second undercut section 66 and 68 respectively identical to the undercut sections 56 or 53, which are likewise identical, but less deeply disposed in ribs 34 and 36. The adjacent edges of the grooves 56 and 66 and 53 and 63 are respectively spaced apart a distance of .062 inch and the spacing between the upper edge of the grooves 66 and and the edge defined by the intersection of surfaces 5'0 and 43 with the grooves 52 and 54 respectively is .158 inch. The center planes of the grooves 52 and 5d are preferably inclined from the normal to a plane defined by the surfaces and 50 or the top surface of the portion 4-6 at an angle of 45.

In its preferred form, the overall width of strip 14 is 1.781 inches, having a central thin portion .187 inch width of a thickness of .062 tapered to the opposite uniformly thicker side portion 64 which are .100 inch thick and extend a distance of .375 inch from the extreme edge surface: of the bases 60 and 62. This formation provides a thin flexible section at. the crest 70 of the arched meme strip which readily conforms to the irregnlarates of the edge 16 of the door 18 and which is firmly supported against the door by the thicker outer sections and the interconnecting tapered sections.

By this construction, the bases 60 and 62 may be selectively inserted in either the undercut sections 56 or 66 and the undercut sections 58 and 68 respectively to thereby provide three distinct spacings between the crest 70 of the arched strip 14 from the member 12. Thus, if the spacing between the edge 16 of the door 18 and the threshold mounting surface 24 is the normal spacing,

beads 60 and 62 are inserted in the undercut sections 56 and 58 respectively. If the bottom edge 16 of the door 18 is relatively widely spaced from the threshold mounting surface 24 as in the case of a door which has been cut off slightly at the bottom to accommodate various types of other weather strippings, the beads 60 and 62 may be inserted in the undercut sections 66 and 68 respectively to provide a relatively wide spacing between the crest 70 and the member 12; and if the bottom edge 16 of the door 18 has been cut off slightly providing an intermediate spacing between the bottom edge 16 and the threshold mounting surface 24, one of the bases 60 and 62 may be inserted in its coacting lower undercut section 56 or 58 respectively and the other of the bases 60 and 62 may be inserted in the associated undercut section 66 or 68 respectively, thereby providing an intermediate spacing between the crest 70 of the arched strip 14 and the member 12.

The thickness of the bases 60 and 62 and their clearance in relation to the width of the grooves 52 and 54 is such that the oppositely outwardly extending portions of the bases 60 and 62 may be deflected downwardly from the sides 64 and inserted into the mouth of the grooves 52 and 54, respectively, and guided with a bladed tool into either the undercut sections 66 or 56 and 68 or 58 respectively, or, after the member 12 has been cut to the desired length, the arched strip 14 may be mounted by inserting its bases 60 and 62 into the appropriate undercut sections through the open ends thereof. In the former contingency, the member 12 may be secured to the flooring 26 by screws extending through the portion 46 of member 12 as illustrated in the aforesaid patent. In the later contingency and preferably, the mounting screws for the member 12 extend through the member 12 as the opposite sides of the ribs 34 and 36 so that the seal unit 10 may be marketed as an assembled unit ready for easy assembly. The interfitting relationship between the bases 60 and 62 and the upper undercut sections 66 and 68 respectively is such that, when the bases 60 and 62 are received within these undercut sections, the application of a load to the unconstrained por tion of the arched strip 14 will not disengage these beads from the undercut sectionsvin which they are received and force the beads into the lower undercut sections 56 and 58 respectively.

The present invention also compensates for spacings between the threshold mounting surface 24 and the bottom edge 16 of the door 18 which are non-uniform along the longitudinal length of the threshold 10, for example, when the threshold mounting surface has become badly worn to form a depression as indicated at 72 in Figures 1 and 2 or for limited offset levels of flooring 26 and 28. These non-uniform variations in spacing are compensated for by adjustment of either or both the sealing strips 20 and 22, depending upon the size and location of the depression.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the sealing strips 20 and 22 are identical in cross section and are interchangeable. Each is provided with a pair' of alternatively operative threshold mounting surface engaging edge surfaces 74 and 76, edge surface 76 being illustrated in its operative position in Figure 4, and edge surface 74 being illustrated in its operative position in Figure 3. The edge surface 74 is on a longitudinally extending relatively thin bead 78 whereby the edge 74 is relatively closely spaced with respect to the edge 80 of the member 12 when in operative position, and the edge surface 76 is on a relatively thick bead 82 so that the edge surface 76 is relatively widely spaced with respect to the edge 30 of the member 12, when in its operative position as illustrated in Figure 4. The members 20 and 22 are each formed with an intermediate connector head 84 integrally connected to the main portion of the member 20 through a neck portion of reduced lateral thickness 86. Head 84 is received within the undercut section 88 of the groove 90 formed longitudinally at the bottom of each side of the member 12 in laterally inwardly spaced relationship to the edge 80. The width of the un-undercut portion of groove 90 is preferably .062 inch, the width of the undercut section 88 is preferably .156 inch, the depth of the undercut section is preferably .050 inch, the bottom wall having a radius of curvature of .125 inch. The thickness of the neck 86 of member 20 is .050 inch and its length is .062 inch. The width of the head 84 is preferably .125 inch, its thickness is preferably .040 inch, and the radius of curvature of its end surface is preferably .125 inch (all dimensions herein given in reference to' vinyl strips are applicable to the strips in their extruded condition.)

The thickness of the members 20 and 22 between planar surfaces 92 and 94 is preferably .070 inch, the radius of curvature of the surface 96 is preferably .250 inch with its center located on a line parallel to the center line of the neck 86 and off-set therefrom .187 inch. The location of the center and the radius of curvature of the curved surfaces 98 are the same as for surfaces 96, but on the opposite side of neck 86. The extreme tip of edge surface 76 is off-set from the center line of the neck 86 a distance of .375 inch measured along a line parallel to the surface 94 and the overall width of the strip 20 from the extreme edge of edge surface '76 to the extreme edge surface of edge 74 measured along a line parallel to the surface 94 is .734 inch. The overall dimension between a line parallel to surface 94 tangent to the curve surface 98 and the extreme tip of the edge surface 76 is .218 inch. The end surface 100 is off-set from a plane normal to the surface 94 by an angle of 20 and the surface 102 is off-set from the surface 100 by an angle of 45. The opposite end surface 104 is ofi-set from the normal to the surface 94 by an angle of 40. The maximum thickness between the plane of surface 94 and the curved surfaces 96 and 98 is .093 inch..

At the outside of groove 90, member 12 is formed with a longitudinally extending planar surface 106 which intersects an arcuate longitudinally extending surface 108 which merges into an oppositely curved arcuate surface 110 forming the extreme edge 80 of member 12. Inwardly of groove 90 member 12 is formed with a planar surface 112, coplanar with the surface 106, which intersects an arcuate surface 114 which merges with a curve surface 116. The curved surfaces 110 and 116 are tangent to the plane defined by surfaces 106 and 112 and that surface is inclined at an angle of 10 from a plane tangent to the curved surfaces 110 at the opposite sides of the member 12. The radii of curvature of the curve surfaces 110 and 116 are .016 inch and the radii of curved surfaces 108 and 114 are .250 inch. The tangent to curved surface 110 parallel to the center line of groove 90 is off-set from that center line a distance of .312 inch and the spacing between that tangent and a parallel line tangent to the curve surface 116 is .625 inch. The center of the radius of curvature of the curved surface 108 is located on a line spaced .125 inch from the said line tangent to surface 110 and the center of radius of curvature of curve surface 114 is off-set a distance of .125 from the said line tangent to the curved surface 116. The curved surface 110 is tangent to the curved surface a 108 and the curved surface 114 is tangent to the curved surface 116. The radius of curvature of the top surface 118 of the member 12 at each side of the member 12 inwardly of the outermost groove 44 is 5.000 inches, the center being located on a line perpendicular to the top surface of portion 46 spaced inwardly 1.625 inches from a parallel line tangent to the curved surface 110 forming the edge 80, and outwardly of the outermost groove 44 is 1.000 inch. The curved surfaces 110 of the opposite edges 80 are tangent to a plane spaced .062 inch above the plane defined by the coplanar surfaces 38 and 40. The plane defined by the surfaces 50 and is spaced a distance of .437 inch above the plane tangent to the opposite edge curve surfaces 110.

As is apparent from the foregoing dimensions, the heads 84 are received within the undercut portions 88 of the grooves 90 with a relatively free fit so that the strips 20 and 22 may be readily removed longitudinally from the grooves 90. When the threshold is to be installed in an old building in which the center of the doorway has become deeply worn as indicated at 72 in Figure 2 and Figure 1, the present invention accommodates for this deeply worn depression as will now be explained. The strip 22 is removed from the groove 90 and cut into three sections designated 22a, 15 and c in Figure 2. Section 22b is inserted into the groove oriented in the manner indicated in Figure 4 with the relatively large head 82 located outwardly of the threshold and sections 22a and 22c are inserted in the groove oriented in the manner indicated in Figure 3 in which the relatively thin beads 78 are located outwardly. When the threshold is mounted in the doorway as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the edge 76 of the central section 2213 of the strip 22, the length of which is cut to fully span the depression 72, will engage the depression 72 at its deepest point and will be deflected upwardly along the upwardly curving portions of the depression 72 to the normal floor level at the junction of section 22b with sections 22a and 220. When the member 12 is clamped to the floor, as has been explained hereinbefore, the full length of the edge 76 of the section 22b will be compressed against the floor, being lightly compressed against depression 72 at its deepest point and being deflected substantially at its opposite ends. The edges 74 of the sections 22a and 220 are deflected in the normal manner to form a fluid tight seal with the engaged portion of the threshold mounting surface 24. The abutting ends of sections 22a and 22b of sections 22b and- 22c due to the compression of the sections are forced into fluid tight abutting engagement to thereby form a continuous fluid tight seal be tween the opposite ends of the threshold and the worn threshold mounting surface.

Figures 5, 6, 7, 7A and 9, illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment the threshold 150 is of such construction that the threshold is adapted primarily to be mounted upon a wooden base saddle strip 152 of conventional form mounted upon the floor level surface 154 by conventional means as by nailing (not shown). This threshold 150 is adapted to accommodate variations in spacing between the bottom edge 155 of a door 156 and the various portions of the longitudinal length of the threshold mounting surface 153, which in this embodiment is the top surface of the Wooden saddle member 152. The threshold of this embodiment comprises a base or saddle plate 160 having laterally spaced threshold mounting surface engaging edge surfaces 162 and 164, the threshold mounting surface engaging edge surface 164 being formed by a sealing strip 166, and an arched flexible elastomeric weatherstrip insert 168 interfitted at the ends of its oppositely extending sides 170 and 172 with the base member 160.

Referring specifically to Figure 7, the member 160 is formed with coplanar top surfaces 173 and 174. A parallel planar surface 176 is depressed below the plane of surfaces 173 and 174 a distance of .035 inch to receive and provide a backing surface for the arched portion of the sealing strip 168 when a load is applied thereto for the same purposes heretofore pointed out in connection with depressed member 46 of Figures 1 through 4. The

member is formed with thickened, rib-like portions 178, 180 and 182 terminating in coplanar abutment surfaces 184, 186 and 188 respectively which are spaced from surfaces 173 and 174 a distance of .312 inch. Sealing Weatherstrip insert 168 (see also Figure 7A) is formed with a relatively thin midsection (.140 inch long and .062 inch thick) connected to relatively thicker sections 170 and 172. (.082 inch thick) by a relatively tapered section. Beads 190 and 192 formed along the free edges of legs 170 and 172 of rectangular cross-section being .140 inch wide at their end faces, and .050 inch thick. Weatherstrip insert 168 is 1.140 inches in overall width the tapered sections extending from their junction with the thicker sections at a point .250 inch from the bead end faces to their junction with the thinner midsection at a distance of .500 inch from the bead end surfaces. Beads 190 and 192 are received in interfitting relationship in undercut grooves 194 and 196 respectively. The groove 194 is formed with two alternatively operative undercut sections 198 and 200 extending parallel and being vertically spaced in the depth of the groove 194. In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the groove 196 is formed with but a single undercut section 202. As in the previous embodiment, the bead 190 may be inserted in either the undercut section 198 or the undercut section 200 to provide a two position adjustment of the crest 204 of the arched Weatherstrip 168 relative to the threshold mounting surface 158 and the surfaces 172, 174 and 176 of the top of the member 150. This adjustment accommodates differences in the spacing between surfaces 158 and the bottom edge 154 of the door 156 which are generally uniform across the width of the door. In this embodiment of the invention, but a single bottom edge sealing strip 166 is provided. Strip 166, best illustrated in Figure 9, comprises a relatively large longitudinally extending cylindrical bead 206, a relatively small longitudinally extending truncated cylindrical bead 208 interconnected to bead 206 by a neck section 210 of smaller cross section than either the bead 206 or 208. Strip 166 is preferably formed of vinyl, as is the Weatherstrip insert 168 but may be formed of any suitable flexible elastomeric material without departing from the present invention in its broader aspects. The head 206 is generally of a diameter of .140 inch. The width of the bead 208 is also .184 inch but its bottom surface, designated 164 in Figure 9 and adapted when in its normal operative position for engagement with the threshold mounting surface, is spaced from the center of curvature of the bead 206 a distance such that the overall height of the strip 166 is .243 inch. The radii of curvature of the curved portions of bead 208 are .031 inch and the lateral spacing between the centers of the radii of curvature of those curved portions, which are spaced equally from the vertical center line of the bead, is .085 inch. The strip 166 is mounted upon the member 160 in interlocking relationship within the longitudinally extending shoulders of groove 212 having a diameter of .156 inch the center of curvature of which is spaced upwardly from surface 188 a distance of .078 inch and inwardly from the adjacent outer edge of the member 160 a distance of .250 inch. This provides a bottom opening 214 for groove 212 which is .100 inch wide to receive the neck 210 which is .085 inch thick. The strip 166 may be mounted upon member 160 in interlocking relation therewith with either bead 206 received within the longitudinally extending groove 212 as is shown in full lines in Figure 5 or with the smaller bead 208 received within the groove 212 as illustrated in dotted lines in Figures 5 and in solid lines in Figure 7. The former position is a normal position for strip 166 and the latter position is that employed when strip 166 is required to accommodate depressions in the threshold mounting surface 158 as in a worn saddle member 152 9 providing a depression 216 as is illustrated in Figure 6.

As in the previous embodiment, the strip 166 may be cut in sections to accommodate depressions in portions of the longitudinal length of the threshold mounting surface. Figure 6 illustrates the mounting of the strip 166 to accommodate a central depression in the member 152, a midsection 16612 of length sufficient to fully span the depression 216 being mounted within the groove 212 with the relatively large bead 206 located outside of the groove 212 and sections 166a and 1660 are mounted in the normal position illustrated in full lines in Figure 5. With these sections assembled within the groove 212 as just described and the threshold 150 secured to the threshold mounting surface 158 as illustrated in Figures and 6, as the use of nails, screws or the like extending through the apertures 218 and 220 which are longitudinally spaced along the opposite sides of the threshold 150, the central section 166/; is highly compressed at its opposite edges and slightly compressedat its center to conform in fluid tight relationship to the depression 216. The end sections 166a and 1660' are compressed normally against-the threshold mounting surface 158 and into fluid tight sealing relationship with the opposite ends of the central strip section 166b.

Referring again to Figure 7, the center planes of the grooves 194 and 196 are each off-set at an angle of 30 from a plane normal to surface 176, the width of the recesses in their un-undercut portions being .075. The Width of the rectangular undercut sections is .156 inch and the depth of each undercut section is .062 inch. There is a spacing of .031 inch between undercut sections 198 and 200 and a spacing of .062 inch between the top of undercut section 198 and a juncture of groove 194 with planar surface 174. The Width of groove 194 is .075 inch; The location and dimensions of groove 202 is identical With the dimensions and location of groove 198.

With respect to all dimensions and angles heretofore started, it is to be understood that they are intended to establish suitable groove clearance and relative mass proportions and relationships found best suited to afford proper mounting and sealing cooperation between the flexible elastomeric seal elements and their mounting grooves and opposed seal surfaces while assuring ready production and long life in use.- While variations therein will be found desirable depending upon the dimensions of the closure openings which control the lateral dimensions of the saddle and its grooves, proportional changes in dimensions throughout may be expected to give best results in seal units of varying width.

From the foregoing detailed description, it is apparent that I have provided and disclosed two embodiments of an improved form of vinyl insert threshold adapted to accommodate variations of two types in the spacing between the bottom edge of the door and the adjacent threshold mounting surface: a wide spacing which is substantially uniform transversely of the door as, for example, results from a door which has been cut-off shorter than normal and variations in this spacing which are non-uniform along the length of the threshold as results, for example, from a worn depression in the threshold mounting surface, Whether it be the actual floor surface or a wooden threshold plate or saddle memebr.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A door, window or like sealing unit adapted to be mounted on the closure opening defining framing surface 10 to cooperate with the edge-of such door, window or' the like and with such framing surface to provide a moisture and air tight seal therebetween', said unit being adapted for use in installations having various spacings between such door, window or the like and framing surface and comprising an elongated base saddle member; an elongated, flexible, elastomeric seal strip having a transversely I arched sealing wall extending above and longitudinally of the top of said base member and means for securing it to said base member, said seal strip providing at the crest of the arched wall thereof a door, window or like engaging sealing surface; means at the opposite longitudinal edges of the bottom of said base saddle member providing abutment surfaces for abutting engagement with said framing surface; and means for varying and maintaining a selected spacing between said door engaging surface and at least one of said opposite longitudinal edges of said base saddle member throughout at least a portion of the length of said sealing unit.

2. The sealing unit defined in claim 1 wherein said abutment surface at at least one of said longitudinal edges of the bottom of said member comprises a second elongated elastomeric strip mounted on said base saddle member and adapted to provide a continuous air and moisture tight seal with the engaged framing surface along the length of said sealing unit irrespective of planar ofisets in said framing surface.

3. The sealing unit defined in claim 2 wherein said spacing varying means comprises means along one edge ,of said second elastomeric strip for mounting said second elastomeric strip on said member in a first position in which the abutment surface of said second elastomeric strip adapted to provide a continuous seal with an engaged framing surface is at a first predetermined spacing from the adjacent longitudinal edge of the bottom of said base saddle member and means along another edge of said second elastomeric strip for mounting said second elastomeric strip in a second position in which the abutment surface of'sa'id second elastomeric strip is at a second and different predetermined spacing from said adjacent longitudinal edge of the bottom of said base saddle member whereby upon cutting of said second elastomeric strip into longitudinal segments the sealing unit may be fabricated to provide a continuous seal with longitudinally spaced framing surface engageable abutment surfaces at levels off-set from one another. p

4. The sealing unit defined in claim 2 wherein said second elastomeric strip is provided with first and second alternatively operative longitudinally extending sealing 5. The sealing unit defined in claim 4 wherein said second elastomeric strip is formed with a relatively large longitudinally extending bead forming said first sealing surface, a relatively small longitudinally extending bead forming said second sealing surface and an integrally connected longitudinally extending neck portion of smaller cross section than either of said beads joining said beads and wherein said base member is formed with a longitudinally extending groove having a mouth opening through the bottom of said base member, the width of said mouth being greater than the thickness of said second elastomeric strip neck portion and less than the thickness of either of said beads, said groove being of such size and shape in cross section as to alternately receive either of said beads therein.

6. The sealing unit defined in claim 4 wherein said second elastomeric strip is formed by a plurality of identically shaped and dimensioned strip segments abutting endto end and wherein one of said segments is mounted on said base member in said first position and another of said segments is mounted on said base member in said second position.

7. The sealing unit defined claim 4 wherein said second elastomeric strip comprising a body formed with a; relatively thick longitudinally extending edge forming said first sealing surface, a relatively thin longitudinally extending opposite edge forming said second sealing surface, and an upstanding longitudinally extending neck portion terminating in a connector head intermediate said edges and wherein said base member is formed with an undercut longitudinally extending groove to receive aportion of said upstanding neck portion and said connector head to interconnect said second elastomeric strip and said base member.

8. The sealing unit defined in claim 1 wherein said spacing varying means comprises groove means formed in said base saddle member for selectively receiving said seal strip and maintaining it in one of a plurality of assembled positions to thereby vary the spacing between the crest of said arched wall and said base member.

9. The sealing unit defined in claim 8 wherein said means for varying the spacing between the arched wall crest and said base saddle member comprises superposed communicating undercut groove means for selectively receiving a portion of said seal strip.

10. The sealing unit defined in claim 9 wherein said seal strip is formed with a generally planar longitudinally extending central section having a longitudinally extending generally rectangular bead along each of its opposite lateral edges and wherein said undercut groove means of said base saddle member comprises a pair of uniformly laterally spaced longitudinally extending grooves each of which is provided with at least one longitudinally extending undercut rectangular section for receiving one of said strip edge beads in interfitting relation to secure said respective seal strip edges to said base saddle member, said grooves being laterally spaced on said base saddle member a distance less than the width of said strip whereby said strip is supported in arched relation to said base member when mounted in said grooves.

' 11. A base or saddle member for use in forming an adjustable height vinyl insert sealing unit comprising an elongated, extruded, generally transversely arched shaped body member having at least one longitudinally extending groove opening through its upper surface to provide a mounting means for an elongated elastomeric seal strip, said groove including a plurality of relatively inwardly oil-set undercut recesses adapting said body member to selectively mount and retain an elastomeric seal strip in any one of said undercut recesses and thereby selectively predetermine the extent of protrusion of the elastomeric seal strip above said upper surface.

12. The base or saddle member of claim 11 wherein said body member has a longitudinally extending depression in an intermediate portion of said upper surface, said one longitudinally extending groove is located along one side of said depression and a second longitudinally extending groove having at least one inwardly located undercut recess therein is located in said body member along the other side of said depression.

13. The base or saddle member of claim 11 wherein said body member inwardly from at least one lateral edge is thickened throughout a substantial area and said thickened area is provided with a longitudinally extending downwardly opening undercut groove adapting said body member to mount an underside elastomeric seal strip.

14. The base or saddle member of claim 11 wherein said body member inwardly of each of its lateral edges is thickened throughout a substantial area and said thickened areas are each provided with a longitudinally extending downwardly opening undercut groove adapting said body member to mount an underside elastomeric seal strip along each lateral edge thereof.

15. The base or saddle member of claim 14 wherein said body member has a longitudinally extending depression in its upper surface intermediate said thickened areas, said one longitudinally extending groove is located along one side of said depression and a second longitudinally extending groove having at least one inwardly located undercut recess therein is located in said body member along the other side of said depression.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 104,321 Johnston et al June 14, 1870 340,510 Johnston Apr. 20, 1886 350,931 Holst Oct. 19, 1886 653,368 Tschieky July 10, 1900 1,507,636 Twardowsky Sept. 9, 1924 1,840,879 Barringer- Jan. 12, 1932 2,345,273 Macklanburg Mar. 28, 1944 2,367,409 Kuhler Jan. 16, 1945 2,718,677 Cornell Sept. 27, 1955 

